River receives the same rights as a human in ‘world first’ settlement

A win/win for culture, and for the earth. It doesn’t happen every day.

But following the longest-running litigation in the country’s history, the Whanganui River in New Zealand (or Aotearoa’s) North Island will be treated as a human being in the eyes of the law.

A group of Māori people known as the Whanganui Iwi have fought for their relationship with the river to be recognised by law (known to them as Te Awa Tupua), since the 1870s.

The bill recognising the river passed on Wednesday, and Te Awa Tupua will now have all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person. The river can also now be represented in court.